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Multiple-Meaning Words

A multiple-meaning word is spelled and said the same way but means different things: a bat flies at night, and you hit a ball with a bat. Context is the only clue, which is why these words are such good reading practice.

Here are 124 multiple-meaning words from past ClueBy puzzles, each with a real example sentence for every meaning. Use them as a reference, or make a printable worksheet below.

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Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

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Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: deal · season · charge · cap · pass · race · fine · rock

  1. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  2. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  3. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  4. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  5. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  6. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  7. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  8. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  9. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  10. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  11. Atomic bombs are a danger to the human ________________.
  12. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  13. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  14. Winning one ________________ isn't the same as dominating a sport.
  15. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  16. The tickets are free of ________________.
  17. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  18. Did you ________________ the meat?
  19. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  20. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  21. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  22. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  23. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  24. Only by prohibiting all nuclear weapons, we can together stop the arms ________________.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com

Answer key

  1. deal — an agreement
  2. pass — to spend time
  3. cap — of ice
  4. fine — all right
  5. fine — high quality
  6. pass — to succeed
  7. season — of the year
  8. deal — a big deal
  9. charge — electricity
  10. pass — a permit
  11. race — humankind
  12. rock — to move gently
  13. rock — music
  14. race — a contest
  15. rock — a stone
  16. charge — a price
  17. cap — a hat
  18. season — to add flavour
  19. fine — a penalty
  20. charge — in control
  21. season — in sport
  22. deal — to handle
  23. cap — a lid
  24. race — the arms race

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

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Frequently asked questions

What are multiple-meaning words?

Words with the same spelling and pronunciation but more than one meaning, like bark (of a dog or of a tree) or bank (for money or of a river). You can only tell which meaning is meant from the rest of the sentence.

Are multiple-meaning words the same as homonyms?

Mostly, yes. Teachers often use "multiple-meaning words" and "homonyms" for the same idea. Homophones are different: they sound alike but are spelled differently, like flour and flower.

Are the worksheets free?

Yes. Make and print as many as you like for home or classroom use. Each sheet has its own link, so you can print the same one again.

Where do the words come from?

From past ClueBy puzzles, a daily game where you sort twelve sentences by their missing word. A new puzzle every day adds four more words to this list.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com